Written Answers Tuesday 23 October 2007

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend test purchasing of alcohol to people under 18 to other local authority areas following the results of the pilot study in Fife.

Shona Robison: The Society for Chief Officers for Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPOS) in association with the Crown Office Prosecution Fiscal Service (COPF) have worked together to produce an operational protocol drawing on the experiences of the Scottish test purchasing pilots. A Practical Guide To Test Purchasing in Scotland was published on the Scottish Government website today.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/16091941.

  Publication of the guidance will enable Scottish Police Forces and Prosecution Services to prepare for the national roll out of alcohol test purchasing before the end of this year.

Alcohol Misuse

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the success of test purchasing schemes at reducing sales of alcohol to people under 18.

Shona Robison: The final report of the evaluation of the Fife test purchasing pilot for sales of alcohol to under 18s was published on the Scottish Government’s website today.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/16091859.

  During the first test purchase visit 20% of licensed premises failed. However, only 7% of premises failed the test purchase revisit, suggesting that the first visit had a significant impact on the practice of shop and bar staff on preventing underage sales.

  This closely reflects experience in England and Wales where a recent report by the Home Office on test purchasing of alcohol showed that of 9,000 attempts to test purchase alcohol by minors, 14.7% succeeded compared with 20% in 2006. Only 8% of premises made at least two sales while fewer than 1% made three sales.

Burial and Cremation

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many headstones have been lowered or taken down by local authorities for health and safety reasons in cemeteries operated by local authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

Care of Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have waiting lists for free personal care and how many people are on each list.

Shona Robison: Research has confirmed that local authorities do not currently hold information on waiting lists for free personal care on a consistent basis. The Scottish Government and COSLA are discussing a range of issues relevant to the implementation of the free personal care policy, including ensuring that people do not experience undue delay in having their assessed care needs met. In partnership with local authorities we will ensure that the existing guidance is fit for purpose and we will develop a means for more open and transparent information about waiting lists.

Debt

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report to the Parliament on a new approach to bankruptcy for debtors with low income and low assets.

Fergus Ewing: The Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 contains provisions outlining a scheme which will allow debtors with low income and low assets, who are often unable to obtain debt relief under the current rules, to apply for their own bankruptcy.

  On behalf of the Scottish Government, the Accountant in Bankruptcy conducted a consultation exercise to seek views on how the scheme should work. I am grateful to all who took the time to contribute.

  Having considered the responses, I am pleased to announce that I intend to lay regulations before Parliament in January to allow this new route into bankruptcy to become available from April 2008.

Debt

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for extensions of time to pay debts were made in the sheriff courts in each year since 2002, broken down by type of order.

Fergus Ewing: The information requested for 2002 is given in table 5.1 of Civil Judicial Statistics 2002 , which can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079 .

  The number of applications for extension of time to pay debts made, by type of order, in the sheriff courts, 2003 to 2006, is provided in the following table.

  

Nature of Application
2003
2004
2005
2006


Time to pay order (non summary cause)
160
113
194
165


Time to pay order (summary cause)
174
151
270
148



  Notes:

  1. The data are management information statistics which have not been subjected to the same quality assurance standards as statistics produced by the Government Statistical Service. In addition, there are general concerns surrounding the accuracy of some of the civil judicial statistics collected by the Scottish Government. Therefore, the data should be used with caution and it should be appreciated that firm conclusions cannot be drawn from the data provided.

  2. Action is being taken to improve the accuracy and reliability of the civil judicial statistics collected by the Scottish Government.

Dentistry

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that students completing degree courses at the proposed Aberdeen dental school will be awarded degrees by the University of Aberdeen.

Shona Robison: Discussions on the composition of the degree curriculum are continuing between Dundee and Aberdeen Universities. Clarification on the awarding of the degree and curriculum will be subject to the approval by the General Dental Council.

Dentistry

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to recruit academic staff for the proposed Aberdeen dental school in time for teaching to begin by October 2008.

Shona Robison: Initial discussions have taken place between officials and university staff. These discussions are on-going and will include the timescale for recruiting academic staff.

Dentistry

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that teaching of undergraduate students will commence on the premises of the proposed Aberdeen dental school by October 2008.

Shona Robison: It is intended that the teaching of dental students will commence in Aberdeen from October 2008.

Dentistry

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that the proposed Aberdeen dental school should employ its own academic staff by October 2008.

Shona Robison: Discussions are on-going, although it is possible that teaching staff at the dental school will be employed by Dundee and Aberdeen Universities.

Dentistry

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether undergraduate students will be able to enrol for the proposed Aberdeen dental school for courses commencing in the 2008-09 academic year.

Shona Robison: Yes. It is intended that prospective dental students will be able to enrol for courses commencing in the 2008-09 academic year.

Dentistry

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing a new NHS dental practice in the Oban area following the closure of the Argyll Square dental practice in 2007.

Shona Robison: The responsibility for the overall provision of NHS dental services rests with the NHS board.

  NHS Highland is currently, with vigour, exploring all options to establish a new NHS dental practice in Oban. It is appreciated by the Community Health Partnership that access to NHS dentistry must be resolved as quickly as possible. No decision on a site has been made and discussions are on-going with various local agencies.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the method of measuring dental practices’ commitment to the NHS with a view to increasing patient access to the NHS and improving the formula for payments to dentists.

Shona Robison: We have no plans to change radically the current NHS commitment criteria, but are considering possible refinements to the current system.

Enterprise

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are grants available to help businesses to provide changing facilities for babies on their premises.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not provide grants to businesses for the provision of changing facilities. Most grant assistance to businesses is provided through Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. However, there are also other bodies, including local authorities, that provide business funding. We are not aware of any grants available specifically to help businesses provide changing facilities for babies on their premises. However, such costs may be eligible for support as part of a larger upgrade or development.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what grants are currently administered through Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Highlands and Islands local enterprise companies and which of these are (a) under review, (b) to end, (c) to continue to be administered by HIE without review and (d) to continue without review but administered by a body other than HIE.

Jim Mather: The following schemes, which are administered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, provide grants to businesses in the Highlands and Islands area:

  Initial Investment and Job Creation scheme

  Fisheries and Aquaculture scheme

  Agriculture and Horticulture scheme

  Training scheme

  Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Marketing Consultancy and Trade Fairs scheme

  Research and Development scheme

  Scottish Property Support scheme

  Historic Environment Regeneration scheme.

  As the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth announced in his statement, we intend in the longer term to look at integrating national grant schemes and to review the use of small business grants in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area. This will therefore be subject to further consideration and no decisions have yet been made as to timescales. In the meantime, Highlands and Islands Enterprise will continue to operate business grants in its area.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as a result of its proposed abolition of local enterprise companies and reorganisation of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), current HIE Shetland staff will remain based in Shetland; whether they will be given any decision-making responsibility and, if so, what decisions they will be permitted to make.

Jim Mather: This will be an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. However, as confirmed in the reply to question S3W-4864 on 23 October 2007, Highlands and Islands Enterprise will continue to maintain a presence in Shetland.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, after its proposed abolition of the local enterprise companies and reorganisation of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have taken place, who will take decisions currently taken by HIE Shetland’s board and where the new decision takers will be based.

Jim Mather: This will be an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. However, as now, such decisions will reflect local Shetland priorities and be informed by a continued Highlands and Islands Enterprise presence in Shetland.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as a result of its proposed abolition of local enterprise companies and reorganisation of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, decisions affecting Shetland will still be taken by those with a full understanding of Shetland’s business environment.

Jim Mather: Under the reform proposals, there will be, as now, a Highlands and Islands Enterprise presence in Shetland. Any decisions which have an impact on Shetland will therefore continue to take into account the appropriate business input and expertise currently provided through that presence.

Enterprise

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local government budgets will be increased to reflect the changes to Scottish Enterprise structures.

Jim Mather: There is likely to be some alteration in the budgets of local authorities to take account of the reforms but no changes will be made until the next financial year.

Enterprise

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the interests of (a) Fife and (b) the Kirkcaldy parliamentary constituency will be safeguarded within the new Scottish Enterprise regional and national structures.

Jim Mather: Under the reform proposals, there will be, as now, a Scottish Enterprise local office in Fife that will continue to provide appropriate business input and expertise to local economic activity. In addition, as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth made clear in his statement, where, in areas such as Fife, there are strong and effective local partnerships between the enterprise networks, local authorities, the business community and others, these should continue.

Enterprise

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what priority Fife will be given within Scottish Enterprise’s new regional structure and what autonomy local partnership boards will have.

Jim Mather: Regional delivery will allow Scottish Enterprise to deploy a greater proportion of its resources to frontline delivery. The regional business advisory boards will ensure that the business sector and other local stakeholders continue to have meaningful engagement and influence in the development of economic development activity. Under the reform proposals, there will be, as now, a Scottish Enterprise local office in Fife. In addition, as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth made clear in his statement, where, in areas such as Fife, there are strong and effective local partnerships between the enterprise networks, local authorities, the business community and others, these should continue.

Enterprise

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the business community in Fife will be consulted within the new Scottish Enterprise regional structure.

Jim Mather: As the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth made clear in his statement to Parliament, business engagement will continue to be a vital part of economic development activity through the regional and industry advisory boards. The regional advisory boards will be led by the business sector and ministers will expect them to be representative of businesses across their regions. Where there are existing mechanisms or partnerships through which businesses already engage, these will still be able to operate. In addition, the Fife office of Scottish Enterprise will continue to work closely with businesses in its area.

Enterprise

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what budgets regional offices will have within the new Scottish Enterprise structures.

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish Enterprise budgets will be allocated following the restructuring of the enterprise networks.

Jim Mather: This will be an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Enterprise

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure, particularly in the transitional period, that Scottish Enterprise’s economic strategy is open and accountable and that all stakeholders are consulted on it.

Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise will continue to deliver against the objectives set out in its published Operating Plan during the implementation phase of the reforms.

Enterprise

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs will be lost in Glasgow through the restructuring of Scottish Enterprise.

Jim Mather: Staffing levels within Scottish Enterprise offices is an operational matter for the organisation. However, as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth announced, there will be no compulsory redundancies as a consequence of the reform proposals.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who will appoint members of the strategic forum for enterprise; what budget will be allocated annually to running the forum; whether members of the forum will receive remuneration for their duties, and to whom the forum will report.

Jim Mather: As the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth set out in his statement to Parliament on 26 September 2007, the strategic forum will be led by myself and Mr Swinney and its membership will include the chairs and chief executives of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and VisitScotland. The intention of the forum is to promote greater alignment and better integrated activities on the part of these bodies. There will be no separate budget or remuneration involved. The forum will report to ministers.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who will appoint members of the business-led boards of the regional operations that will replace the local enterprise companies; what budget will be allocated annually to running each operation; how that overall budget will compare with the current local enterprise company budget; whether members of the boards of regional operations will receive remuneration for their duties, and to whom the boards will report.

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what delegated authority the restructured Scottish Enterprise network will give to the six new regional operations.

Jim Mather: These will be operational matters for the enterprise networks.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what plans it has to establish industry sector advisory bodies; when any such bodies are expected to be in place; which industry sectors such bodies will serve; who will appoint the boards of any such bodies; to whom such bodies will report, and what budget it intends to assign such bodies.

Jim Mather: These will be operational matters for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Environmental Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many statutory notices have been issued to food premises by environmental health officers in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Shona Robison: The following is a table of enforcement notices served under food safety legislation between 2001 and 2005-06, broken down by local authority. The reporting periods changed in 2004 from a calendar year to a financial year basis. During 2004, the figure reported also changed, from the number of establishments which had received notices to the actual number of notices served.

  This information has been gathered from the statutory return that local authorities are required to provide to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) annually.

  The information is not held by the FSA prior to 2001-02. The data for 2005-06 is currently being collated and is unavailable at present.

  Numbers of enforcement notices served, should not be used as any kind of indicator of performance. Enforcement notices are only one tool of many available to Environmental Health Departments and the use of them varies between authorities for a number of reasons including the culture of the authority and their enforcement policy.

  Improvement Notices, require defects or deficiencies to be rectified by a set date.

  Emergency Prohibition Notices, require an activity, use of equipment, establishment or part there of to cease immediately. An Emergency Prohibition Notice has to be confirmed by a sheriff, who will issue a Prohibition Order.

  

Local Authority
OCD Number
Improvement Notice
2001
Emergency Prohibition Notice 2001
Improvement Notice
2002
Emergency Prohibition Notice 2002
Improvement Notice
2003


Aberdeen City Council
760
5
0
19
0
2


Aberdeenshire Council
761
9
0
0
0
6


Angus Council
762
2
0
1
0
3


Argyll and Bute Council
763
82
0
39
0
34


East Ayrshire Council
764
1
1
0
0
0


North Ayrshire Council
765
4
0
3
0
4


South Ayrshire Council
766
5
0
15
0
27


Scottish Borders Council
767
4
0
4
0
1


Clackmannanshire Council
768
5
0
6
0
1


West Dunbartonshire Council
769
5
0
2
0
2


Dumfries and Galloway Council
770
1
0
0
0
1


East Dunbartonshire Council
771
5
0
3
0
2


Dundee City Council
772
1
1
8
2
2


Edinburgh City Council
773
26
0
35
0
36


Falkirk Council
774
4
0
1
1
4


Fife Council
775
13
0
8
0
3


Glasgow City 
776
1,494
0
137
0
92


Highland Council
777
2
0
3
0
0


Inverclyde Council
778
10
0
6
1
0


North Lanarkshire Council
779
4
0
6
1
4


South Lanarkshire Council
780
15
0
8
0
4


East Lothian Council
781
21
0
9
0
15


West Lothian Council
782
17
6
9
5
4


Midlothian Council
783
3
0
0
1
3


The Moray Council
784
1
0
1
0
1


Orkney Islands Council
785
0
0
3
0
0


Perth and Kinross Council
786
18
1
13
0
8


East Renfrewshire Council
787
3
0
0
0
8


Renfrewshire Council
788
24
0
13
0
19


Shetland Islands Council
789
0
0
3
1
2


Stirling Council
790
1
0
9
0
3


Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
791
0
0
0
0
0



  

Local Authority
Emergency Prohibition Notice
2003
Improvement Notice
2004
Emergency Prohibition Notice
2004
Improvement Notice
2004-05
Emergency Prohibition Notice
2004-05
Improvement Notice
2005-06
Emergency Prohibition Notice
2005-06


Aberdeen City Council
0
3
0
21
0
28
0


Aberdeenshire Council
0
0
0
0
0
9
0


Angus Council
0
1
0
3
0
2
0


Argyll and Bute Council
0
6
0
10
0
9
0


East Ayrshire Council
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


North Ayrshire Council
0
0
0
0
0
2
0


South Ayrshire Council
0
3
0
9
0
7
0


Scottish Borders Council
0
1
0
9
0
5
0


Clackmannanshire Council
0
0
0
3
0
0
0


West Dunbartonshire Council
1
2
1
4
0
1
0


Dumfries and Galloway Council
0
0
0
3
0
1
0


East Dunbartonshire Council
0
1
0
1
0
2
0


Dundee City Council
4
0
1
5
0
5
0


Edinburgh City Council
0
6
0
19
0
51
0


Falkirk Council
0
0
0
2
0
3
0


Fife Council
0
2
1
2
0
3
0


Glasgow City 
0
34
0
196
0
122
1


Highland Council
1
2
0
3
0
5
0


Inverclyde Council
0
0
0
6
0
3
0


North Lanarkshire Council
0
0
0
0
0
4
0


South Lanarkshire Council
1
0
0
12
0
9
0


East Lothian Council
0
2
0
9
0
13
0


West Lothian Council
3
1
3
0
9
3
1


Midlothian Council
0
0
0
1
0
3
0


The Moray Council
0
0
0
3
0
3
0


Orkney Islands Council
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Perth and Kinross Council
0
1
0
12
0
15
0


East Renfrewshire Council
0
2
0
6
0
3
0


Renfrewshire Council
0
11
0
24
0
6
1


Shetland Islands Council
0
0
0
2
0
0
0


Stirling Council
0
0
0
4
0
5
0


Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

General Practitioners

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many doctors from countries outwith Scotland have been employed to provide locum support for out-of-hours and other GP services since the new GMS contract came into effect.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of childhood obesity has been in each year since 1987, broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: The specific information requested is not centrally available.

  However, estimates of childhood obesity derived from a sample of children aged two to 15 years, are available at Scotland level for the years 1998 and 2003 from the Scottish Health Survey 2003 (See Table 5.7 on page 125). http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/11/25145024/50271.

  In addition, statistics on obesity in children are available from the Child Health Surveillance Programme. Data from those boards that record findings using the electronic child health systems, CHSP-Pre School and CHSP-School, are available at the following link (Click on "obesity statistics" to access a list of available tables and charts): http://www.isdscotland.org/child_obesity.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is evidence of a link between childhood obesity and deprivation.

Shona Robison: The evidence available suggests that there is no simple relationship between childhood obesity and deprivation.Statistics on childhood obesity are available from the most recent Scottish Health Survey (2003) at (please see chapter 5). http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/76169/0019732.pdf .

  More recent figures are also available from the Child Health Surveillance Programme. Data from those NHS boards in Scotland that record findings from this programme using the electronic child health systems are available at http://www.isdscotland.org/child_obesity (click on "obesity statistics" to access tables and charts.)

  Both the Scottish Health Survey and the statistics from the Child Health Surveillance Programme indicate that rates of obesity in children are generally higher in the most deprived fifth of areas than in the least deprived areas. However, there is no clear or consistent pattern in other deprivation categories, with the highest rates of obesity often observed in one or more of the intermediate deprivation groups.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will implement its proposal to exempt dwelling houses from land attachment.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is concerned that the provisions relating to land attachment, contained in the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007, should not have the unintended consequence of homelessness for a relatively small debt.

  The Scottish Government is considering how to best achieve the exemption of the main dwelling house from land attachment within the wider context of the implementation of diligence reform.

Income

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross (a) hourly and (b) weekly pay was for full-time employees in Dundee in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006, broken down by gender.

Jim Mather: The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics.

  (a) The median gross hourly earnings for full-time employees resident in Dundee City are given in the following table.

  Median Gross Hourly Pay (£) for Full-Time Employee Jobs1 of People Resident2 in Dundee City

  

 
2004
2005
2006


All
9.03
9.83
10.01


Male
9.50
10.02
10.62


Female
8.23
9.38
8.75



  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.

  2. Estimates have been supplied for employees who are resident in Dundee City local authority area. Estimates for those who work in the area are also published on the National Statistics website.

  3. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

  (b) The median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees resident in Dundee are given in the following table.

  Median gross weekly pay (£) of full-time employee jobs1 of people resident2 in Dundee City

  

 
2004
2005
2006


All
356.10
375.10
407.10


Male
371.50
391.70
424.70


Female
309.20
343.60
336.20



  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.

  2. Estimates have been supplied for employees who are resident in Dundee City local authority area. Estimates for those who work in the area are also published on the National Statistics website.

  3. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

  4. The estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10p.

Income

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross (a) hourly and (b) weekly pay was for full-time employees in Angus in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006, broken down by gender.

Jim Mather: The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics.

  (a) The median gross hourly earnings for full-time employees resident in Angus are given in the following table.

  Median Gross Hourly Pay (£) for Full-Time Employee Jobs1 of People Resident2 in Angus

  

 
2004
2005
2006


All
9.68
10.02
10.63


Male
10.25
10.74
10.97


Female
8.79
9.26
10.08



  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.

  2. Estimates have been supplied for employees who are resident in Angus local authority area. Estimates for those who work in the area are also published on the National Statistics website.

  3. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

  (b) The median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees resident in Angus are given in the following table.

  Median Gross Weekly Pay (£) of Full-Time Employee Jobs1 of People Resident2 in Angus

  

 
2004
2005
2006


All
387.00
391.50
415.50


Male
425.40
438.00
456.30


Female
328.40
335.50
362.30



  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.

  2. Estimates have been supplied for employees who are resident in Angus local authority area. Estimates for those who work in the area are also published on the National Statistics website.

  3. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

  4. The estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10p.

Income

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross (a) hourly and (b) weekly pay was for full-time employees in Aberdeen in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006, broken down by gender.

Jim Mather: The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics.

  (a) The median gross hourly earnings for full-time employees resident in Aberdeen City are given in the following table.

  Median Gross Hourly Pay (£) for Full-Time Employee Jobs1 of People Resident2 in Aberdeen City

  

 
2004
2005
2006


All
10.07
10.94
11.50


Male
10.78
11.66
11.70


Female
9.26
10.22
10.65



  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.

  2. Estimates have been supplied for employees who are resident in Aberdeen City local authority area. Estimates for those who work in the area are also published on the National Statistics website.

  3. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

  (b) The median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees resident in Aberdeen City are given in the following table.

  Median Gross Weekly Pay (£) of Full-Time Employee Jobs1 of People Resident2 in Aberdeen City

  

 
2004
2005
2006


All
398.90
441.30
459.50


Male
446.60
495.20
498.20


Female
360.50
379.40
414.00



  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.

  2. Estimates have been supplied for employees who are resident in Aberdeen City local authority area. Estimates for those who work in the area are also published on the National Statistics website.

  3. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

  4. The estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10p.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for (a) warrant sales, (b) reporting of poindings and (c) reports of sales were disposed of in the sheriff courts in each year since 2002.

Fergus Ewing: The information requested for 2002 is given in table 5.2 of Civil Judicial Statistics 2002 , which can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079 .

  The Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 replaced poindings and warrant sales with the new diligence of attachment on 30 December 2002.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for conjoined arrestment orders were made and granted in the sheriff courts in each year since 2002.

Fergus Ewing: The information requested for 2002 is given in table 5.3 of Civil Judicial Statistics 2002 , which can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079 .

  The number of applications for conjoined arrestment orders made and granted in the sheriff courts, 2003 to 2006, is provided in the following table.

  

 
2003
2004
2005
2006


Applications made
1,660
1,873
2,071
1,588


Applications granted
1,184
1,452
1,544
1,170



  Notes:

  1. The data are management information statistics which have not been subjected to the same quality assurance standards as statistics produced by the Government Statistical Service. In addition, there are general concerns surrounding the accuracy of some of the civil judicial statistics collected by the Scottish Government. Therefore, the data should be used with caution and it should be appreciated that firm conclusions cannot be drawn from the data provided.

  2. Action is being taken to improve the accuracy and reliability of the civil judicial statistics collected by the Scottish Government.

  3. An application for a conjoined arrestment order which has been granted may not necessarily result in an earnings arrestment being carried out.

  4. Applications granted in one year may have been lodged in a preceding year.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many diligences were executed under summary warrant for (a) community charge, (b) council tax and (c) other summary warrant in each year since 2002.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many diligences were executed, including summary warrant, in each year since 2002.

Fergus Ewing: The information requested for 2002 is given in tables 5.4 and 5.5 of Civil Judicial Statistics 2002 , which can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079 .

  Information on diligences executed, including summary warrant procedures, 2003 to 2006, is provided in the following table. Implementation of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 resulted in changes being made to the data collected on diligence from 2003 onwards.

  

Diligence Executed1
2003
2004
2005
2006


Summary Warrant


Council Tax
 
 
 
 


Attachments executed
1,191
1,401
1,113
1,658


Reports of attachments2,3
-
1,836
1,425
1,344


Auction completed following attachment3
79
0
0
1


Exceptional attachments (EA) executed
4
2
6
1


Auction completed following EA3
0
0
0
0


Earnings arrestments executed
104,270
110,760
116,449
123,601


Non-earnings arrestments executed
130,436
155,481
162,762
226,037


Community Charge
 
 
 
 


Attachments executed 
67
14
1
0


Reports of attachments2,3
-
14
3
0


Auction completed following attachment3
0
0
0
0


Exceptional attachments (EA) executed
0
0
0
0


Auction completed following EA3
0
0
0
0


Earnings arrestments executed
4,180
2,617
952
1,686


Non-earnings arrestments executed
7,758
4,301
3,958
2,777


Other Summary Warrant
 
 
 
 


Attachments executed
2,037
2,044
1,221
1,964


Reports of attachments2,3
-
1,521
991
1,001


Auction completed following attachment3
11
13
6
5


Exceptional attachments (EA) executed
0
0
0
1


Auction completed following EA3
0
0
0
0


Earnings arrestments executed
2,084
838
570
455


Non-earnings arrestments executed
12,327
9,369
8,787
11,679


Non-Summary Warrant


Attachments executed
2,741
3,345
4,234
4,547


Reports of attachments2,3,4
-
2,913
2,037
3,350


Auction completed following attachment3
170
178
204
187


Exceptional attachments (EA) executed
0
63
27
46


Auction completed following EA3
0
0
0
0


Earnings arrestments executed
10,627
11,057
11,295
9,289


Current maintenance arrestments executed
5,978
8,037
11,117
6,035


Non-earnings arrestments (excluding admiralty)
 
 
 
 


Executed on the dependence
572
492
732
507


Executed in execution
4,429
4,725
4,247
5,153


Admiralty arrestments 
 
 
 
 


Executed on the dependence
12
3
7
12


Executed in execution
42
2
3
244


Inhibitions
 
 
 
 


Executed on the dependence
1,358
1,804
2,103
2,106


Executed in execution
2,232
2,829
3,318
5,700


Other 
 
 
 
 


Sequestrations for rent executed
9
9
5
2


Decrees for maills and duties executed
41
0
0
0



  Notes:

  1. This is not an exhaustive list of all diligences available, it includes only those for which the Scottish Government collects data.

  2. Information is not available for 2003.

  3. Reports of attachments and auctions completed following attachment have been included here for completeness.

  4. Information is not available for quarters 3 and 4 of 2005.

  5. The data have been provided by sheriff officers and Messengers-at-Arms and have not been subjected to the same quality assurance standards as statistics produced by the Government Statistical Service. The data are incomplete as not all data returns are completed and returned to the Scottish Government. In addition, there are general concerns surrounding the accuracy of some of the civil judicial statistics collected by the Scottish Government. Therefore, the data should be used with caution and it should be appreciated that firm conclusions cannot be drawn from the data provided.

  6. Action is being taken to improve the accuracy and reliability of the civil judicial statistics collected by the Scottish Government.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when civil judicial statistics for 2003, 2004 and 2005 will be made publicly available.

Fergus Ewing: It is believed that some of the data contained within the Civil Judicial Statistics publication contain significant inaccuracies and as a result the publication has been suspended whilst these inaccuracies are investigated. The latest available publication contains data for 2002.

  The Scottish Court Service, the main provider of the data concerned, is working with Justice Analytical Services to improve the accuracy and level of detail of the civil judicial statistics it collects. This work includes changes to the configuration and use of electronic systems for case management and data capture throughout the civil courts, which will be in place by April 2008. However, the quality of the data for 2003 to the present is not of an acceptable standard for the statistics to be made publicly available within a statistical publication.

  Data from 2003 onwards continue to be collected, however, and are available upon request, subject to the amount of work required to provide the requested information.

  A notice has been placed on the Scottish Government’s website giving further details on the suspension of the Civil Judicial Statistics publication. This notice can be found under the Civil Judicial Statistics section at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/Publications.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations for reform of civil judicial statistics have emerged following the review of civil judicial statistics and when these will be implemented.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve the accuracy of civil judicial statistics and when these will be implemented.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is reviewing the scope, quality and presentation of statistics on the civil justice system, and will make and implement recommendations for change to ensure that accurate, relevant and timely statistics are collected in a consistent way across Scotland, are published in an appropriate format and are used with confidence.

  As part of this review, research has recently been carried out with users of civil judicial statistics, to identify their data requirements and suggestions for a revised Civil Judicial Statistics publication. The report setting out the findings from this research was published on 5 October in Research with Users of Civil Judicial Statistics, and can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/04094856/0.

  In addition to this, it is believed that some of the data contained within the Civil Judicial Statistics publication contain significant inaccuracies and as a result the publication has been suspended whilst these inaccuracies are investigated. The latest available publication contains data for 2002.

  The Scottish Court Service, the main provider of the data concerned, is working with Justice Analytical Services to improve the accuracy and level of detail of the civil judicial statistics it collects. This work includes changes to the configuration and use of electronic systems for case management and data capture throughout the civil courts, which will be in place by April 2008.

Maternity Services

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many births were recorded in each year since 1987, broken down by maternity unit.

Jim Mather: The information requested is given in the table Births by maternity unit, Scotland, 1987 – 2006 a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43824).

Pharmacies

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to utilise community pharmacies to promote public health.

Shona Robison: The Public Health Service is one of the four core services introduced through the new community pharmacy contract. The service specification requires the pro-active involvement of community pharmacists and their staff in supporting self care and offering suitable interventions to promote healthy lifestyles.

Pharmacies

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to utilise the community pharmacy network for health promotion.

Shona Robison: The Public Health Service is one of the four core services introduced through the new community pharmacy contract. It supports community pharmacists and their staff in health promotion activities through the provision of health promotion advice and materials as well as participation in four national health promotion campaigns per year.

Prison Service

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the membership of the Scottish Prisons Commission.

Kenny MacAskill: I am pleased to announce that the Chair of the Commission, Henry McLeish, has now been joined by the following well respected individuals:

  Chief Constable David Strang, Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police.

  Sheriff Alistair Duff.

  Josephine MacLean, Stipendiary Magistrate.

  Geraldine Gammell, Director of The Prince’s Trust in Scotland.

  Richard Jeffrey, President of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

  Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster and journalist.

  I am also delighted to announce that Dr Karin Dotter-Schiller, Deputy Director General of the Austrian Federal Prison Service has also agreed to serve on the Commission. Dr Dotter-Schiller, who has served as a Judge and as a Public Prosecutor, is one of the founding members of the International Corrections and Prisons Association. Her knowledge and experience will bring an important international dimension to the commission’s deliberations.

  The chair and i also feel that the commission would benefit from input from a Scottish commentator on criminal justice matters. I will therefore be making a further announcement on that point in due course.

  The chair is keen to press on with the commission’s work and the first meeting will be held tomorrow, Wednesday 24 October.

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-harassment orders under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were applied for in the civil courts in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06 and how many were granted.

Fergus Ewing: The number of civil non-harassment orders applied for and granted in the sheriff courts under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, 2003-04 to 2005-06, is provided in the following table.

  

 
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Applications lodged
66
41
29


Applications granted
10
10
16



  Notes:

  1. The data are management information statistics which have not been subjected to the same quality assurance standards as statistics produced by the Government Statistical Service. In addition, there are general concerns surrounding the accuracy of some of the civil judicial statistics collected by the Scottish Government. Therefore, the data should be used with caution and it should be appreciated that firm conclusions cannot be drawn from the data provided.

  2. Applications granted in one year may have been lodged in a preceding year.

Renewable Energy

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to build wind farms in the (a) South Ayrshire, (b) East Ayrshire and (c) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituencies are currently before the Scottish ministers awaiting a decision under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Jim Mather: Under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, Scottish ministers have received three wind farm applications located in South Ayrshire (Mark Hill, Arecleoch and Dersalloch), a further two applications are also located in East Ayrshire (Afton and Kyle). All five of these wind farm applications are located in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency.

Road Accidents

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to emergency services on whether and when to contact other emergency services when dealing with a road traffic accident.

Fergus Ewing: None. This is an operational matter for individual Chief Constables, Chief Fire Officers and the Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many abortions have been carried out in each year since 1967, broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: The specific data requested is not available from 1967 at local authority level as there is insufficient postcode detail recorded in the earlier years. However, abortion data is available from 1983 by local council area. This information is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 43832 and 43833).Totals for Scotland from 1967 are available at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/1918.html .

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teenage pregnancies there have been in each year since 1967, broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: The specific data requested are not available from 1967 at local authority level as there is insufficient postcode detail recorded in the earlier years. However, teenage pregnancy data are available from 1983 by council area. This information can be found in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 43834 and 43835).

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of sexually transmitted infections there have been in each year since 1967, broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: The specific data requested is not available at local authority level as there is insufficient postcode detail recorded. However, diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from Scottish Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics are available at Scotland level and are presented in the following table. It should be noted that STIs are increasingly diagnosed in settings other than GUM, e.g. general practice and family planning clinics, and that details of these data are not collected centrally.

  Sexually Transmitted Infections Diagnosed in Scottish GUM Clinics, 1967-2006

  

 Year 
 Acute STIs
 Other STIs


 Syph
 Gon
 Chlam
 Herp
 Wart
 NSGI
 Tric
 HIV
 Oth Ac
 Acq syph
 herp 2
 wart 2
 Oth STI


 1967
 140
 3,036
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 2,098
 1,369
 n/a
 3,147
 128
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1968
 174
 3,228
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 2,148
 1,369
 n/a
 3,652
 132
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1969
 109
 3,533
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 2,487
 1,541
 n/a
 4,194
 116
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1970
 103
 3,879
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 2,730
 1,427
 n/a
 4,828
 106
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1971
 99
 4,768
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 3,682
 1,602
 n/a
 5,609
 98
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 19721
 80
 4,817
 n/a
 320
 1,515
 4,302
 1,646
 n/a
 637
 93
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1973
 89
 5 250
 n/a
 312
 1,713
 4,874
 1,998
 n/a
 720
 76
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1974
 71
 5,110
 n/a
 341
 1,962
 5,074
 1,665
 n/a
 678
 73
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1975
 96
 4,841
 n/a
 412
 2,051
 5,068
 1,455
 n/a
 713
 68
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1976
 147
 4,864
 n/a
 411
 2,160
 5,281
 1,396
 n/a
 708
 65
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1977
 159
 5,528
 n/a
 493
 2,342
 6,094
 1,599
 n/a
 811
 68
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1978
 187
 5,135
 n/a
 435
 2,207
 6,068
 1,477
 n/a
 838
 61
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1979
 149
 4,937
 n/a
 510
 2,122
 6,640
 1,199
 n/a
 804
 58
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1980
 139
 4,856
 n/a
 482
 2,385
 6,626
 1,119
 n/a
 916
 65
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1981
 131
 4,592
 n/a
 507
 2,534
 7,376
 931
 n/a
 940
 84
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1982
 93
 5,096
 n/a
 622
 2,681
 8,151
 942
 n/a
 1,026
 103
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1983
 98
 4,916
 n/a
 849
 3,122
 8,452
 880
 n/a
 991
 77
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1984
 89
 4,507
 n/a
 852
 3,582
 9,298
 788
 n/a
 1,037
 88
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1985
 66
 4,691
 n/a
 949
 4,351
 8,702
 847
 n/a
 993
 48
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1986
 37
 3,921
 n/a
 1,005
 5,733
 9,238
 704
 n/a
 940
 73
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1987
 33
 2,536
 n/a
 841
 6,314
 7,493
 578
 n/a
 764
 59
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1988
 24
 1,572
 n/a
 798
 6,257
 5,835
 500
 n/a
 765
 44
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 1989
 17
 983
 n/a
 778
 5,976
 5,635
 309
 26
 691
 44
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 19902
 24
 848
 1 729
 840
 6,137
 3,398
 221
 83
 817
 38
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a


 19913
 10
 856
 1 940
 576
 4,590
 3,427
 223
 60
 745
 23
 195
 1,769
 n/a


 1992
 12
 604
 1 745
 602
 4,667
 3,019
 156
 58
 616
 29
 202
 1,698
 n/a


 1993
 7
 442
 1 736
 592
 4,531
 2,731
 144
 71
 603
 17
 212
 1,782
 n/a


 1994
 6
 272
 1 732
 677
 4,700
 2,869
 102
 83
 580
 15
 205
 1,781
 n/a


 19954
 5
 394
 1 551
 829
 4,633
 2,340
 106
 63
 580
 20
 322
 2,571
 9


 1996
 21
 448
 1 770
 896
 4,962
 2,006
 102
 46
 668
 12
 472
 2,840
 14


 1997
 15
 409
 2 138
 849
 5,329
 2,142
 104
 40
 664
 22
 479
 2,992
 18


 1998
 8
 389
 2 662
 827
 5,366
 1,933
 107
 54
 731
 20
 568
 3,649
 20


 1999
 12
 511
 3 365
 939
 5,382
 2,116
 91
 64
 759
 18
 585
 3,516
 19


 2000
 22
 697
 3 728
 898
 5,290
 1,912
 72
 36
 764
 15
 630
 3,383
 12


 2001
 24
 740
 4 849
 1,090
 5,567
 2,090
 121
 47
 734
 24
 724
 3,275
 22


 2002
 51
 690
 5 640
 1,053
 5,602
 2,265
 116
 50
 699
 37
 774
 2,991
 14


 2003
 75
 743
 6 450
 1,243
 5,794
 2,033
 124
 48
 851
 33
 762
 3,042
 20


 2004
 189
 760
 7 090
 1,283
 6,269
 2,103
 127
 110
 856
 32
 860
 3,259
 27


 2005
 188
 834
 8 095
 1,332
 6,451
 2,013
 127
 111
 987
 47
 836
 3,403
 12


 2006
 246
 896
 8 832
 1,390
 6,891
 1,909
 163
 88
 1,046
 40
 852
 3,904
 18



  Source: VR1, ISD(D)5 & STISS.

  Key:

  Syph Infectious syphilis

  Gon Gonorrhoea

  Chlam Chlamydia

  Herp Genital herpes, 1st episode

  Wart Genital warts, 1st episode

  NSGI Non specific genital infection (non-chlamydial after 1989)

  Tric Trichomoniasis

  HIV HIV infection, newly diagnosed

  Oth Ac Other acute STI

  Acq syph Other acquired/congenital syphilis

  Herp 2 Genital herpes, recurrence

  Wart 2 Genital warts, recurrence

  Oth STI Other STI

  Notes:

  1. Genital warts and genital herpes identified separately. Previously part of "Other acute STI".

  2. Chlamydia identified separately. Previously part of "NSGI".

  3. Recurrent genital herpes and genital warts identified separately. Prior to this, numbers recorded probably included both new and recurrent infections.

  4. Revised coding from 01.04.1995. Comparisons with previous years should be made with caution.

Tourism

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans VisitScotland has to change its retail book and map-buying policy from one of local supply to central purchase; what benefits such a policy would achieve, and how it will ensure that local suppliers do not lose out as a result.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland already sources locally books of particular interest, and will continue to do so. While procurement requirements contain no obligation for VisitScotland to cater specifically for local publishers, it nevertheless took great care in the preparation of its recent procurement process for books and maps to ensure that it could be open to both local and national suppliers, large and small.

  Any main supplier appointed by VisitScotland would be expected to procure books and maps from a wide range of sources, but VisitScotland intend to retain the option of continuing to buy a range of local interest titles directly from local suppliers, when that would be appropriate. This arrangement will allow its tourist information centres to continue to procure locally books, maps and, indeed, other merchandise of local interest; some of these may not be available from other stockists. Through this process VisitScotland aims to offer local books and maps that some visitors wish to purchase, as well as maximising its effectiveness through improved procurement, as required by government.

Tourism

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support and training VisitScotland offers tourist information centre staff to enable them to buy the most appropriate books and maps to sell in their centres.

Jim Mather: Within public sector procurement guidelines, the procurement process followed by VisitScotland allows it to stock local products in tourism information centres which reflect the distinctiveness of each part of Scotland. The sale of books and maps in tourism information centres is directly related to VisitScotland’s role in providing information and inspiration to visitors, contributing to the visitor experience, and meeting consumer expectations. However, the support and training offered to its staff to enable them to do this is an operational matter for VisitScotland.

Tourism

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns of local book and map sellers that their support from tourist information centres could be more effective if stock control and competing demands on staff time in the centres were improved.

Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland.

Tourism

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet representatives of local book and map sellers and whether it will discuss with them how VisitScotland can support them more effectively through the purchase of local books for sale in tourist information centres.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland met with Publishing Scotland recently on the matter of its tender process for books and maps. The meeting sought to address issues raised by Publishing Scotland’s members and led to a discussion on opportunities for better working and communication.

Tourism

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action VisitScotland is taking to increase the range of books and maps available at larger tourist information centres.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland already sources locally books of particular interest, and will continue to do so. While procurement requirements contain no obligation for VisitScotland to cater specifically for local publishers, it nevertheless took great care in the preparation of its procurement process for books and maps to ensure that it could be open to both local and national suppliers, large and small.

  Any main supplier appointed by VisitScotland would be expected to procure books and maps from a wide range of sources, but VisitScotland intend to retain the option of continuing to buy a range of local interest titles directly from local suppliers, when that would be appropriate. This arrangement will allow its tourist information centres to continue to procure locally books, maps and, indeed, other merchandise of local interest; some of these may not be available from other stockists.

  Through this process VisitScotland aims to offer local books and maps that some visitors wish to purchase, as well as maximising its effectiveness through improved procurement, as required by government.

Tourism

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that local book and map sellers in small communities face competition for retail book sales from tourist information centres in such communities.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland already sources locally books of particular interest, and will continue to do so. While procurement requirements contain no obligation for VisitScotland to cater specifically for local publishers, it nevertheless took great care in the preparation of its procurement process for books and maps to ensure that it could be open to both local and national suppliers, large and small. Through this process VisitScotland aims to offer local books and maps that some visitors wish to purchase, as well as maximising its effectiveness through improved procurement, as required by government

  Although pricing is an operational matter for VisitScotland, I understand that it has no plan to undercut other shops. Its practice is to sell books at RRP and there are no plans to change this.

Tourism

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans VisitScotland has to engage local producers, such as local book printers and sellers, to ensure that they benefit from its tourist information centre marketplace.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland already sources locally books of particular interest, and will continue to do so. While procurement requirements contain no obligation for VisitScotland to cater specifically for local publishers, it nevertheless took great care in the preparation of its procurement process for books and maps to ensure that it could be open to both local and national suppliers, large and small.

  Any main supplier appointed by VisitScotland would be expected to procure books and maps from a wide range of sources, but VisitScotland intend to retain the option of continuing to buy a range of local interest titles directly from local suppliers, when that would be appropriate. This arrangement will allow its tourist information centres to continue to procure locally books, maps and, indeed, other merchandise of local interest; some of these may not be available from other stockists. Through this process VisitScotland aims to offer local books and maps that some visitors wish to purchase, as well as maximising its effectiveness through improved procurement, as required by government.

  In addition, VisitScotland met with Publishing Scotland recently to discuss its tender process for books and maps. The meeting sought to address issues raised by Publishing Scotland’s members and led to a discussion on opportunities for better working and communication.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether supplies of flu vaccine are sufficient to meet demand from at risk groups.

Shona Robison: Supplies of vaccine this year are sufficient to meet the demands of the seasonal flu vaccination programme. Over 1.1m doses of vaccine have been ordered for Scotland and by the week commencing 5 November 2007 all vaccine will have been delivered to the major Scottish pharmaceutical wholesalers.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase uptake of flu vaccinations from groups most at risk.

Shona Robison: The seasonal flu campaign is every year supported by a significant marketing and communications exercise designed to increase uptake amongst those individuals most at risk, specifically those aged 65 and over and those suffering for a long-term medical condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

  This year a range of approaches have been taken to promote the message to the at risk groups. This includes a strong marketing message highlighting the risks of flu for those suffering from long-term conditions that will be delivered in and around pharmacies. As well as posters, leaflets and pharmacy bags, the marketing campaign this year will make use of posters on bus shelters in the direct vicinity of pharmacies. Interactive media such as text messaging and interactive posters on bus shelters will also be used.

  We have provided all general practitioners with resource packs to make it easier for them to write to at risk groups to encourage them to attend for their vaccination. We have also worked with voluntary organisations for people who are at risk to promote the need for the flu vaccine, and undertaken media briefings with journalists to ensure the key messages are communicated through the press and other media.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase uptake of flu vaccination among older people.

Shona Robison: The seasonal flu campaign is every year supported by a significant marketing and communications exercise designed to increase uptake amongst those individuals most at risk, specifically those aged 65 and over and those suffering for a long term medical condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

  In recent years the uptake of the flu vaccine by the elderly has exceeded our 70% target and last year also exceeded 75% target set by the World Health Organization. We are therefore continuing to make use of the marketing approaches that have proven successful in these recent campaigns, including a television advert targeted at audiences aged 65 and over that will be screened regularly throughout the campaign and a direct mailing to everyone aged 65 and over in Scotland encouraging them to attend for a flu vaccination.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage those who care for older people to enter the flu vaccination programme.

Shona Robison: No specific marketing activity is taking place this year to target uptake of the vaccine amongst carers. The priority this year has been to communicate messages to those suffering from long-term medical conditions who would be most at risk from the flu. However, the marketing campaign every year is subject to an evaluation which will inform decisions about the campaign in subsequent years, and the work being carried out by the seasonal flu review group on increasing uptake will also give consideration to improving uptake amongst other groups.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote uptake of the flu vaccination by care home staff.

Shona Robison: Care homes, along with hospitals, GP practices and other health care services, have received promotional materials aimed at both healthcare workers and residents or patients. No specific marketing activity is taking place this year to target uptake of the vaccine amongst carers. The priority this year has been to communicate messages to those suffering from long-term medical conditions who would be most at risk from the flu. However, the marketing campaign every year is subject to an evaluation which will inform decisions about the campaign in subsequent years, and the work being carried out by the seasonal flu review group on increasing uptake will also give consideration to improving uptake amongst other groups.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote uptake of the flu vaccination by health care workers.

Shona Robison: All health boards are providing the flu vaccination free of charge to health care workers and will be encouraging staff to take up the offer of the vaccination. Leaflets promoting the vaccination of health care workers are available to NHS employers.

  No other specific marketing activity is taking place this year to target uptake of the vaccine amongst health care workers. The priority this year has been to communicate messages to those suffering from long-term medical conditions who would be most at risk from the flu. However, the marketing campaign every year is subject to an evaluation which will inform decisions about the campaign in subsequent years, and the work being carried out by the seasonal flu review group on increasing uptake will also give consideration to improving uptake amongst other groups.

Vaccinations

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any delays in the production of the 2007-08 influenza vaccine supply.

Shona Robison: There have been no delays in the production of 2007-08 influenza vaccine. By the week commencing 5 November 2007 all vaccine orders for Scotland will have been delivered to the major Scottish pharmaceutical wholesalers

Vaccinations

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when this year’s influenza vaccine will become available to NHS patients through their GPs.

Shona Robison: GPs now have access to this year’s influenza vaccine. Eligible NHS patients aged 65 and over and those suffering from certain long term medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or neurological conditions are encouraged to contact their GP to make an appointment for a free vaccination.